Losing your virginity has finally been accepted and embraced by Western society. For centuries remaining pure was praised and encouraged, especially for women, while being sexually active before marriage was taboo, though not really for men. However, sex has become so glamorized in our culture that virgins are often ignored or shamed.
Having sex is seen as another milestone for young adults in American society. But why should virgins be pitied or feel embarrassed? Why do movies like "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" make people seem awkward or like losers if they don't experience physical pleasure?
For those of you out there who have not been intimate with somebody yet, there are a ton of reasons you should feel proud. In fact, there are so many benefits that virgins have. Listed below are the top 10 reasons you should be proud, not ashamed:
1. The most obvious benefit is avoiding an unwanted pregnancy.
2. The second most obvious benefit, of course, is avoiding an STI. Virgins never have to visit a clinic or get tested because their parts are untouched and clean.
3. Being intimate means you open yourself up to someone. Once you let someone in, they have greater potential to hurt you.
4. Even if your boyfriend or girlfriend is a decent person, breakups can still hurt. Virginity is one of the few things that can remain intact after a harsh breakup. It can remain intact even while your heart is in pieces.
5. Waiting for the right time is the perfect way to test your significant other. This tests how much they care about you and what their values are. If they love you, then they know that you're worth waiting for.
6. Psychologically speaking, the more you wait for something, the more excited you are about it. When you finally have it or 'do it,' you might appreciate it more. The first time having sex is as anticipated as your wedding day or having kids. It's one of our greatest fantasies, so why not hold on to it for as long as you can?
7. Not swiping your V-card until your wedding night makes that night much more exciting. It certainly marks the start of a thrilling honeymoon and marriage.
8. Society tells people that they have to be perfect, especially women, so women always worry about how they look when they have sex. Hairless legs and pits, having no hair down there and having a decent odor are society's idea of beauty. If you don't have sex, you don't have to panic about shaving.
9. Deciding for yourself when you are ready for something is a great sign of self-respect and maturity. Don't let anyone pressure you into anything you're not ready for.
10. Not having sex is your choice. It's your body, you decide who gets to see or touch it. Being a virgin is a way of telling the world that you are in control.
This is NOT to say that I am against sex. It's everyone's own choice and nobody should be shamed for whether or not they have it, especially women. Don't shame people when they have it and don't shame them when we don't.
I admit that I'm a virgin. I haven't even had a boyfriend, but that's okay. I don't have to worry about having a baby too soon, or binging on ice cream to deal with heartbreak. Although I haven't dated, that doesn't mean I would swipe lost my virginity just like that. I'm in control.
What you do with your body is your business. Don't let movies like "American Pie" or peer pressure dictate what you do with your body. There's more to life than what goes on in the bedroom (or elsewhere). After all, there are shows like "Jane the Virgin" that are starting to teach the youths of America that what you do with your body is your choice, whether you have sex or choose to wait.
